Insider Threat Research by Binghamton University: Are mass layoffs and data breaches connected?

Researchers from Binghamton University’s School of Management, alongside international collaborators, explore how mass layoff announcements can heighten cybersecurity breach risk by increasing insider threat behavior and exposing organizational weaknesses (e.g., delayed access termination, outsourcing, outdated systems). They propose that proactive corporate social responsibility and stronger security and communication practices during layoffs can reduce both the likelihood and severity of breaches, citing IBM’s 2023 finding that the average global breach cost reached $4.5M.